Lower control arm bolt adjustment for alignment - known for seizing up?

Hey Gang-

Re: my 2024 Limited:

I was just talking with one of the techs at my local 4wd shop (OK4WD in Stewartville, NJ) and asked him whether he felt the alignments on Toyotas from the factory were pretty decent--or whether I should plan on having them do an alignment when they mount-up my new Toyo OCs this weekend.

He felt the factory alignment should be good enough...but did mention that he's seen a number of cases where the alignment bolts on the lower control arms of 5th gen 4runners corrode and seize up within the vehicle's first year. He suggested having the assembly taken apart and thoroughly lubed at some point to prevent this.

Is this a thing?

Thanks!
TimG

 

If you're in an area where the roads are salted, then yes. It is a thing. I believe you fit the description if you're in NJ.

 

Thanks CB. I'm wondering if my upcoming Fluid Film treatment (which I plan to do yearly) might be adequate...or whether the assembly really does need to be disassembled and greased up in order to prevent this.

TimG

 

Factory alignments can be crap, my runner was ok, but our RAV4 destroyed its first set of tires because the alignment was out of wack.

 

It needs to be disassembled and coated with anti-seize. The bolt siezes to the steel sleeve inside the bushing, the FF is not going to get in there.

 

Much appreciated, TR....
TimG

 

No problem! It just occurred to me, Wanderlost Overland did a good video about this exact topic.

 

If it were me, I would lube the adjusters independent of the fluid film. I think you're wise to do and annual treatment. Don't forget to lube all of your driveline. I do mine on every oil change, and I don't even live in the salt. Just good practice.

 

I suspect that's a lot more common if you skipped rust prevention. I hit the insides of the controal

Is it possible to do so without disturbing the current alignment?

 

I know you can mark them with a paint pen and crack them loose once in a while while maintaining alignment, but not sure if you can fully remove them without needing to realign.

 

Most car manufacturers will do a free alignment within a certain milage.

 

Not my dealership, they were all about pointing out how bad my tires were, and were more than willing to charge me for an alignment, at 20k miles. I went elsewhere and paid for lifetime, and now try every oil change or so.

 

Nobody is going to do a free alignment at 20,000 miles! Usually it is within the 1st 12,000 miles.

 

Well, they saw the car every 5k from the get go, at 20k it was very clear the tires needed to be replaced.

the alignment was shit from the factory.

 

And yet you never requested an alignment! And now you're pissing and moaning because when you did after 20,000 miles they wouldn't cover it! How many damn potholes and curves did you hit in 20,000 miles?

Quit your belly aching!

 

Dude, why you jumping in my shit? I just stated what happened in my situation.

 

Jist pointing out some obvious facts.

 

Sorry, I forgot some folks can help it .

good day sir

 

My passenger lower front cam seized on mine

 

Just to show you how fast corrosion starts in the alignment cam bolts up here in the rust belt, here's the worst one out of my 2021 when it was just 4 months old. All were pulled and coated liberally with Never Seize before re-installation and a fresh alignment.

 

Holy crap....just 4 months?! That's insane. I've never heard of any modern mass produced vehicle succumbing to corrosion that quickly. Seriously...what is it with these trucks and rust exactly? I would have thought the jillions of dollars Toyota spent replacing Tacoma frames due to significant rust issues several years ago might have them step up their manufacturing game and begin employing some of the anti corrosion technologies that have been developed over the last 20+ years.

Thanks for the pic. I'm getting mine greased up at my 1K synthetic oil change in a couple of weeks.

TimG

 

Agreed lube them up

 

agreed

take the time to notice how poorly tires are wearing before its to late. Ugh.

 

That I did not do. But in all fairness, my factory tires have all worn like crap, I always figured it was just crap factory tires.

 

Dudlops?

 

I don’t remember what ones were on the RAV4, but on the Taco that’s what’s was on it. At 30k, those were complete junk as well.

 

It's not as precise as people like to act. Do it one bolt at a time, put it back lined up to your marks, and it's good enough.

 

Anyone know the torque value for these bolts off the top of your head? And, do they need to be torqued with the vehicle wheels/tires on the ground?

 

100% my cam bolts are going to F me around when I have to cross this bridge.
My cam bolts:

 

125-130 and yes on the ground.

https://trail4runner.com/2020/06/17/5th-gen-4runner-torque-specs/